<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
      THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
      INTERIM CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH
      31, 1996 AND THE  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1996 AND IS
      QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>                     
<CIK>                         0000808461
<NAME>                        GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                         2,069
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  23,826
<ALLOWANCES>                                   258
<INVENTORY>                                    1,025
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               29,727
<PP&E>                                         91,193
<DEPRECIATION>                                 35,551
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 90,595
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          24,804
<BONDS>                                        11,841
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       16,956
<OTHER-SE>                                     28,215
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   90,595
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               37,969
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  16,667
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               3,462
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               1,887
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             330
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                3,687
<INCOME-TAX>                                   1,550
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            2,137
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   2,137
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .09
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .09